Overhead door construction



Feb. 6, 1940. A, V, ROWE 2,189,019

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i NI W- lNXZ'ENTDE..

.Anita Feb. 6, 1940. A. v. RowE OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lFiled Nov. so, 193s :Naz-ENTER- '5" Q/nj we Eff-- @f7/Wina@ .AI-IY'E.

Feb. 6, 1940. A' yl ROWE 2,189,019

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. so, lase :s'sheets-sheet 3 LEVEN-rma.

Q/Ln) awe y Patented Feb. 6, 1940 I Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Alvin V. Rowe. Galesburg, lll., assignor to Rowe liianui'actuling` Company, Galesburg, IIL, a corporation of Illinois Application November 341i, 1938, Serial No. 243,245

8 Claims. (Cl. 20L-20) This invention relates generally to. overhead ance between the door panels and frame strucdoor constructions but ,more particularly to overtures before said panels reach their ultimate, head door constructions in which the door panel downward door-closing position. That is to say. lor panels are adapted laterally to be moved into vthe present invention contemplates the provision l s' sealing relation with respect to a 'door opening 0f means whereby the sealing relation of the. 5 after reaching a. closing position.` door panels with respect to the door opening is In the design of overhead door constructions, established after vertical downward movement of eilorts have been made to reduce as far as posthe door panels has been completed. sible frictionai resistance as the door panels are It is a further object of the present invention rlo shifted between open andv closed positions. To to release the sealing pressure of the door panels 10 this end it has been common practice to employ and side frames before said panels experience guide rollers equipped with ball bearings, and any upward movement, thereby avoiding the necounterbalancin'g springs have been used to facil cessity of overcoming this sealing pressure when itate the ease with which the door may be operthe panels are initially shifted upwardly from lb ated. i' their door-closing position. Y

Various mechanisms have been offered where- More specically, the invention contemplates by toA eilect the automatic sealingl of the door the provision, in combination with an overhead panels with respect to the door opening as said door construction of the general type and class panels approach their door-closing position. In referred to above, of sealing and releasing means all of these devices with which I'axn familiar, in which may be manually manipulated with little S0 creased frictional resistance to door movements eiort andfrom a convenient position intermeis developed as the door panels approach their diate thesid'es of the door panels. downward or door-closing position. Thus, for Another object of the present invention is to example,.in certain installations tapered or inprovide manually operable door-sealing means clined guide tracks are employed which cause which maybecontrolled by manual manipulation 25 the front marginal portions of the door panels to oi' the locking lever which is usually located cenbe carried into frictional engagement with the trally with respect to the door panels, and which complementary inner surfaces of the door frames may be Operated either from the Outside 0r the during the last several inches of travel of thev inside of the door panels.

panels. In other words, during the latter por- Still` more specifically, the invention contemlo tion of this downward movement, friction is esplates the provision of control. means for 'caustablished between the door panels and the door lng and releasing sealing pressure which will frames. This not only increases the force re- Operate Simultaneously 0n all door panels alone quired to ultimately close the door panels, but the oppositely disposed, vertical margins of the also increases the force necessary to initially shift door panels when in closed position.

the panels from their closed toward their open The foregoing and numerous other objects and "position, Also such installations are affected by advantages Will be more apparent frm the folchanges in climatic conditions because such conlowing detailed description whenconsidered in ditions cause the door panels to experience exconnection with the accompanying drawings 4u pansion andcontraction. Expansion of the door wherein; 40

panels obviously increases the period of frictional Figure 1 is an inside elevational View of an engagement between the Panels and the dr overhead doorconstruction constructed in acframes. In other installations with which I am cordancewith the teachings of they present 1 familiar wherein the 'lateral sealing movement `vention, said view constituting a vertical section of the door panel -occurs as an incident to the 45 downward movement of said" panels, a period of ge; substantially a'lmftle une I I of Fig frictonal engagement takesv place before said panels reach their {limit/ing downward or door- Figure 2 is an emarged elevational View of the closing position. portion of the track structure and associated ele-` 5 It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of ments included Within the bracket designated o the present invention to obviate the disadvan- L! the numeral 2` in Figure 1; 5 tages and inconveniences presented by the above Figure 3is a side elevational view of the device mentioned and other conventionaloverhead door as Viewed frm the right 0f Figure 2, af POIl'fiOn constructions and to this end I propose to preof the track structure being broken away to more u elude the establishment of any motional resistclearly illustrate the structural characteristics u of the vertically shiftable cam actuating mem.-

ber; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the track structure oppositely disposed from the cam member is released to permit lateral movement of the guide roller and the consequent establishment ofsealing pressure betweenthe complementary door panel and door jamb;`

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5. of Figure 1, disclosing in elevation one of the track structures embodying the panel-sealing mechanism contemplated by the ,present invention;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the cam members and actuating means therefor disassociated from the upright track structure;

Figure '1 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the portion of the section included within the bracket designated by the numeral 1 in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the structure as viewed from the right of Figure '7; i

Figure 9 in an elevational view as viewed from the left of Figure 8 along the line 9--9 of Figure 8, with a portion of said parts shown in section to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the vertically shiftable cam supporting element is coupled with the bell crank dev-ice of Figure .8;

Figure 10` is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken across the upright track sectionssubstantially along the line |0-I0 of Figure Y Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View oi the upper half of the upright track section of Figure 5, with a portion thereof broken away to disclose the structural arrangement of parts otherwise hidden;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the right of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line I8-i3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantially 'along the line |4--I4 of Figure 1l;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the cam elements detached from its supporting or actuating member;

Figure 16 is a perspective view ofthe cam actuating member and cam supported thereby employed to effect lateral door-sealing movement of the door' panels shown in Figures 11 and 12;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the upright track which is cooperatively associated with the cam actuating member of Figure 16; and

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspectivevview of the lower cam actuating member and means for coupling said member to the upper cam actuating member disclosed in Figure 16.

Referring now to th'e drawings more" in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar. parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that,n for the purpose of illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, the same is disclosed in association with a door structure designated generally. by vthe numeral 20, which includes a. plurality of door panels 22, 24, 26, and v28, which are adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and horizontal overhead openedposition guide roller 44.

along a pair of identical oppositely disposed guide rails or tracks indicated generally by the numeral 30. Each ofthe tracks includes an upright or vertically disposed track section 32, a curved section 34, and a horizontal section 38. l5

The three lowermost door panels are cq:- nected in edge-to-edge relation along their outer margins by identical hinge means designated generally by the numeral 36, whereas the two uppermost panels are connected at their opposite margins by identical hinge. means designated generally by the numeral 40. Each of the hinge means 3B includes a pintle 42, .which carries a The detailed arrangement of the hinge means 40 and the guide roller 46 carrled thereby will be mlore apparent from the description which is to follow. It will-suffice at this pointin'the description to say that the door panels 22, 24, 26, and 28 are adapted to be shifted between the closed vertical position 20 It will be observed that each vertical track 25.

section 32 includes aat guide portion 56 adapted to be secured to a complementary door jam 52, and the oppositely disposed guide portion of the tracls section 32 is curved to receive the curved periphery ofthe guide rollers. It will be apparent that, as ythe door panels are shifted from their vopen overhead position to the limit of their door closing position, no lateral movement ofthe door panels into sealing engagement with the door :lambs 52 takes place automatically. In other words, the vtrack section is disposed in parallelism with the door lamb and no means is provided which operates as an incident to the Aclosing movement of the door panels for effecting automatically lateral movement of the door panels into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the door lambs 52. force required to move' the door panels downwardly, as said panels approach the limit of their closing position, is not counteracted by 5 frictional resistance between the door panels and door jambs, as in conventional installations with which I am familiar.

The present invention contemplates means for effecting lateral movement of the door panels 5 Minto, sealing engagement' with the door jambs.

after thepanels reach their fully closed or downward position. This door sealing means includes actuating mechanism designated generally by the numeral 54, which is cooperatively disposed with respect to and, in fact, actuated by a complef mentary lock bar 56 (Figures l, 7, and 8). Each of the lock bars 56 is reciprocably mounted at its free extremity within brackets 58 marginally secured to the door panel 24. Each of the lock bars 56 is continuously urged inwardly toward each other through the agency of a spring element 6B. The-inner extremities of the lock bars 56 are pivotally connected with a control handle mechanism 62, which is mounted centrally of the .panel 24 in a convenient. position for manual manipulation. The mechanism 62 includes a handle member 64 which may be rotated so as to longitudinally shift the bars 56 when a latch member 66 of a lock mechanism 68 is withdrawn'from a complementary peripheral recess in the mechanism 62. This lock mechanism 68 functions in accordance with conventional locking devices for overhead doors, and hence a further detailed descripn As a resultfthe tion thereof is not necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention. I

Referring now to the actuating mechanism 54 (Figures 7 and 8), it will be seen of a bell crank mechanism carries a roller 12 which is adapted to be engaged by the free extremity of the lock bar 56. The arm 10 is pivotally mounted at 14, which pivot also supports a companion bell crankarm 16. The arms 10 and 16 are resiliently coupled through the agency of a coil spring 18. AThe free extremity of the arm 16 makes a slot-and-pin connection with a vertically disposed actuating bar 80. It will be `also noted that the actuating mechanism 54 including the bell crank arms 10 and 16 is mounted upon a bracket or frame 82 adjustably secured by suit'- able means, such as nuts 84, to the side of the vertical track section 32. Movement of the lock bar 56 (Figure 8) to the left inengagement with the roller 12 causes the vertical 'actuating bar 80 to bel shifted upwardly so as to effect simultaneous lateral movement of the door panels into sealing engagement with the door jambs 52 in the manner about to be described.

It will be noted that the vertical actuating bar is preferably curved so as to fit into the complementary curvature of the vertical section 32 of the' guide track 30 (see Figure 10). The fore-` going slot and pin connection comprises a pin 66, which cooperates with a slot 88 in the bell crank arm 16, is secured to the vertical actuating member 80, and is also secured to a block 90, which superimposes the member 80 and is vertically shiftable within a complementary slot 92 formed in the track section 30.- A plate 94 superimposes the block and extends on opposite sides beyond the slot 92. With this arrangement, the actuating member 80 is guided in its 'vertical reciprocation. It will be noted that the plate 92 is secured to theactuating bar 80and the block 90 by suitable screws 96. The actuating bar or member 80 carries a plurality of cam members or elements 98, the lowermostcam member 98 being companion to the lowermost door panel 22, the intermediate cam members 98 being companion to the door panels 24 and 26, and the upper cam member being companion to t e door panel 28. These cam members are all similar in their function, and hence the disclosure of one will serve as a disclosure of all. By referring to Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, a clear understanding of the structure and function of these .cam members will be obtained. It will be noted that the cam member 98 isadjustably secured to the actuating bar 80 Vthrough the agency of a screw |00 Iwhich extends through a slot |02 in the actuating bar 80. A washer |04 is of su`fiicientwidth to` span aslot |06 in the tracksection 32, through which the cam member 98 extends and in whichV said cam member is vertically reciprocable. It will also be notedthat each of the cam elements 88 is positioned in the vicinity of the complementary guide rollers 44 and,

as upward movement is experienced by the actu-4 ating bar in. response tothe outward shifting of the lock bars 58, the inclined surfaces |08 of the cam at the upper extremityof the slots |06, thereby causing the actuating bar to shift laterally toward the' door jambs 52. The complementary rollers 44 engaging the inner curved surface of the bar, are

simultaneously moved so as to carry the periphery of the roller through a slot .or recess ||0 provided in the flat tread portion 50 of the tracksection 32.

; i This moyement of the rollers 44 causes the door that one arm 10 (Figure 10) members 98' engage 'the material of the track curved portionA of the A secured to the bar 80a by curved portion of the track section 32.

panels l22, 24, and 26 to be shifted into tight sealing engagement along their oppositely disposed marginal surfaces with the complementary surface portions of the door jambs 52. This sealing or clamping engagement of the door panels with respect to the door jambs occurs as the periphery of the rollers 44 moves into the complementary slots or recesses ||0. From the foregoing it will v be apparent that, as a result of the upward movement of the actuating bar 80, the door panels 22. 24, and 26 are simultaneously shifted into sealing relation with respect to the door opening which is defined by the door jambs 52.I

In addition to the actuating member 80 and the cam members 98 associated therewith, I employ an upper actuating section or bar designated by the numeral 80a, which also carries cam members 98a. This upper section 80a. is particularly designed to effect the sealing or clamping engagement of the upper to the door jambs, 52, and the structural features of this portion of the actuating mechanism are best disclosed in Figures 11 to 18, inclusive. 'I'he vertical actuating bar or member 80, previously described, is reciprocable within the curved portion of the vertical track section 32, whereas the vertical actuating member or section 80a is re-I ciprocable along the outer surface of the curved portion of said track section. The lower portion of the U-shaped actuating member 80a is provided with a. slot ||2 which serves to permit adjustable coupling of the member 80a with the member 80. This coupling includes a guide block ||4 which is vertically reciprocable within a' complementary recess or slot ||6 provided in the track section 32, and a screw H8, which serves to clamp together the upper extremity of the bar 80 and the lower extremity of the bar 80a. The upper extremity of the bar` 80 reciprocably interlocks with and is guided by a slot |20 provided in the track section 32 (Figures 11 and 14). It will be seen that a section |22 of the bar 80a is bent inwardly Aso as to project through the guide slot |20. From the door panel 28 with respect-y foregoing it will be apparent that vertical move ment of the actuating bar 80 also causes' vertical movement of the bar` 80a and .the cam members 98a, supported thereby. v

The lowermost cam member 98a.d is adjustably means of aiscrew |24, which' extends through a complementaryl slot |26. The twouppermost cam members 98a are likewise adjustablysecured by screws |28, which extend through complementary slots or recesses |30. As the cam members 98 move upwardly,

`the lowermost cam member engages a roller |32 and the two uppermost spaced cam members engage complementary rollers |34. The roller |32 (see Figures 11 and 13) is carried by a `bracket |361'whch is pivotally mounted upon the pintle |38 of the hinge 40. Disposed on the opposite side ofthe pintle |38 and carried by the frame or bracket |36 is the guide roller 46. Thus, as the roller.|32 is swung upwardly to the right (Figure l1), the guidevroller 46 is swung downwardly and to the right into engagement with the inner This causes the pintle |38 to experience lateral movement tothe left, thereby causing the upper portion ofthe panel -26 and the lower portion of the panel 28 to be moved into clamping engagement vwith the complementary portion ofthe door jambs 52. A spring |40 serves to continuously yplementary cam 98a.

their pivotal supporting brackets, the uppermostV panel may move between vertical door closing position and open overhead position along the`4 curved section .34 of the track without any interference or binding. By having the cam members l98a positioned externally of the track, as

distinguished from the cam members 98 which extend from within the track, the ease with which the uppermost panels of the door structure lmaybe shifted is materially enhanced. 'I'his arrangement avoids the necessity of providing recesses or slots in the flat tread portion in the upper-vicinity of the vertical track section 32. Hence the ease of operation, as well as the elimination of noise, results. Referring again to the springs 'i8 disclosed in Figures 7 ,and 8, attention is directed to the fact that these springs continuously urge the bell crank arm 16 in a counterclockwise direction, as

viewed in Figure 8. Thus, after the door panels have been shifted and clamped in their closed vertical position, any lateral vibration experienced by the door panels will cause the spring 18 to function in such a manner as to eifect a firmer or tighter engagement of the panels with the door jambs. In other words, lateral vibration of the door panels enables the springs 18 to urge the actuating bars in an upward direction, and thus effect a tighter sealing engagement of the panels with the door jambs. 'I'hus springs or yieldable members 18 serve to automatically increase the clamping eiectiveness of the door structure when vibrations are experienced thereby after they have reached their lowermost door closing position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention contemplates an improved overhead door construction, wherein frictional engagement between the door panels and Adoor jamb structure during vertical travel of the door panels is eliminated. Hence, it avoids the necessity of using slanting tracks, rollers spaced at dierent distances from the door members of any kind. mechanism for'building between the door panels the iinal door closing movement up frictlonal resistance and doorjambs during or the initial door opening movement is completely eliminated various modiiications and when the present invention is employed. .The overhead door structure contemplated hereby may be Leconomically produced and installed. Also, the means for automatically increasing the sealing or clamping eectiveness ofthe door panels, when lateral vibration is experienced thereby, Amaterially increases its operative ef; ciency. v i

While certain specic embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited thereto, but contemplatesv changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described claim as new and desire lto secure by Letters Patent is: v:

jamb, as well as wedge In fact, the use of any.

my invention, what i Iv 1. In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a fixed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent the innersurface of a door frame defining a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and a curved section intermediate said vertical and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels slidably mounted upon said tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, and shiftable means for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spaced positions in a lateral direction only into sealing relation with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening. s

2. In an overhead door. construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a fixed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent the inner surface of a door frame defining a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and a curved section intermediate said vertical and horizontal sections; a plurality` of hingedly connected Ydoor panelsslidably mounted upon said tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and o pen overhead position, and shiftable means manually controllable from a position intermediate the sides of the door panels for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spaced positions in a lateral direction only into sealing relation with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening.

3. In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a xed vertical section adapted to be positioned djacent the inner surface of a door frame dening a door opening, and a curvedsection intermediate said vertical and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door said tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, said door panels having vershiftable means for simultaneously engaging said vertically spaced/members to shift said panels in a lateral direction into sealing relation with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening.

4. In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a xed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent the inner surface of a door frame defining a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and a curved ,section intermediate said vertical' and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels slidably mounted upon said tracks andadapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, and shiftable means for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spaced positions in a lateral direction into sealing relation with -respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening, said shiftable means including a yieldable member for automatically" a horizontal overhead section,`

panels slidably mounted upon- 5. In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a fixed vertihorizontal sections, aplurality of hingedly connected door panels sli'dably mounted upon said tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, and shiitable means including actuating members shiftable upon said vertical track sections for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spacedpositions in a lateral direction into sealing relationV with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached' their lowermost position closing the .door opening.

6. In an overheaddoor construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a fixed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent the inner surface of a door frame defining a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and a curved section intermediate said vertical and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels carrying guiding members slidably mounted upon said tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, and shiftable means adapted to engage the structure of said guiding members for simultaneously moving said panels-at vertically spaced positions in a lateral direction into sealing relation with respect to the door .opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening.

7.' In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each track comprising a xed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent the inner surface of a door frame deiini'ng a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and av curved section intermediate said vertical and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels carrying guide rollers mounted upon said 4tracks and adapted to be shifted thereon between door-closing vertical position and open overhead position, and shiftabie mea'ns adapted to engage said guide rollers for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spaced .positions in a lateral direction into sealing rela- .tion with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening.

8. In an overhead door construction, a pair of guide tracks, each guide track comprising a fixed vertical section adapted to be positioned adjacent theinner surface of a door frame defining a door opening, a horizontal overhead section, and a curved 4section -intermediate saidl vertical and horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels, a guide roller carried by the hinges of said door panels and mounted upon said tracks to facilitate shifting said door panels on said tracks between door closing vertical position` and open overhead position, shiftable actu-y ating members associated with the vertical section of each track adapted to engage the structure of said guide rollers for simultaneously moving said panels at vertically spaced positions in a lateral Vdirection into sealing relation with respect to the door opening after the door panels have reached their lowermost position closing the door opening, and a manually operable lcontrol member for causing movement of said actuator member after the door panels have reached their aforesaid lowermost position.

v ALVIN V. ROWE. 

